Can opener



M. J. MANN.

CAN OPENER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1920.

1,41 1,858. Patented Apr. 4, 1922-.

j gnwwtop UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CAN OPENER.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Application filed January 6, 1920. Serial No. 349,753.

1'0 all whom it may novice m:

Be it known that L Mlrtrox JuTvTANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bangor, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Openers, of which the following is aspeoification.

This invention relates to can openers and has for its primary object toprovide a device of this character in which the cutting element is adjustably associated with the handle so that cans of various sizes may be owned by the same tool: novel means being provided on the end of the handle for slid ably engaging the rim of the canto be opened, whereby the cutting of the can-top may be more effectively and simply accomplished.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the parts are few and separable so that the replacement of broken or worn out parts may be easily effected bythe unscrewing of the :tastening means holding the injured or broken parts and the substitution ofthe duplicate parts.

VV'ith these and other objects, my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and described,

reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a view of the can opener in side elevation illustrating the manner in which it is applied to a can, a fragmentary view of the latter being shown;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section and Figure a is a cross section taken on the edges of the handle.

The cutting element of the device consists of a main plate 6 having side portions bent upwardly to provide flanges 7 and 8 respecmay, if preferred, be made in one piece, or

it found more practicable, the plate 6 may be formed of some cheaper grade steel, or

other material and the knife 9 riveted or otherwise aflixed thereto. The blade'9 is made concave-convex so as to puncture the can top in arcs of a circle during the raising);

and lowering'ot the handle 1. The side cut ting edges 10 converge to form a penetrating point 11 at the lowermost entremity or the blade 9 so that can tops of more than usual thickness may be readily penetrated by the cutting blade 9. The cutting blade is adapted to be adjustable along handle l 'with the plate 6 straddling the under face of the handle and crossing slot 5; the side flanges '7 and 8 of the plate embracing the handle along its side-edges and providing guide means for the cutting knife during its adjustment loi'witudinally of the handle 1 but preventing any sidewise movement-of the blade. A securing bolt 12 is inserted through. plate 6'with its threaded shank extending upthrough'the slot 5 for engage ment with a thumb nut 13 which, upon be ing screwed up uponthe'bolt securelyholds the cutting element in rigid engagement with thehandle 1.

To provide a fulcrum at the squared end 2 ofthe handle, asupport or can gripping memberlet is provided and consists of an "elongatedstrlp of metal or other suitable material disposed transversely of the handle end 2, and afiixed to the handle by means of screws or other suitable fastening elements 15. The opposite ends of strip 14 are bent downwardly to provide spaced apart legs 16 each of which has a V-shaped notch 17 cut into the lower edge thereof. The notches 17 are adapted to fit over and engage therim of the canat points offset from the longitudinal axis of the handle, as illustrated by Figure 2 and the legs 16 thus constitute a guiding element for the cutting knife.

Should either the blade 9 or the can gripping member 13 become worn out or broken, it is evident that they can be readily replaced by duplicate parts merely by the removal of the screws or other fastening means by which they are aflixed to the handle 1. r

In the operation of the implement when (D at .4

it is desired to cut open a can top, the blade 9 is first adjusted concentric to the edge or rim of the can, whereupon the guide 14 ed gages the rim. By )ressing downwardly on the handle, the said guide acting as a fulcrum, the knife penetrates the top and by himply holding the implement stationary and rotating the can, or by gripping the handle 3 between the bladeand the guide, a dragging movement of the handle will effect the cutting operation, since the said guide will maintain the implement in cutting position adjacent the said r.i1n.- Of course, when small sized cans are to be opened, the implement may be siezed by the a hand at point Substantially intermediate the ends of the handle and the can twisted to effect a proper cutting thereof. I

Although the foregoing description and accompanying drawings may be considered as referring to the preferred or approved form of the invention, it is to be understood that such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, etc., are permissible, as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended'claims.

guiding mea-ns oifset from the longitudinal.

axis ofthe handle for slidably engaging the rim of a cam, a can top penetrating cutter carried by said handle, said guiding means acting as an initial fulcrum for the cutter.

3. A. can top opener comprising a handle. notched guiding means adapted to act as a fulcrum and disposed at one end of the handle for slidably engaging the rim of :1

can, and a can top cutter adjustableconcentric to the said guiding means.

4;. A can opener including a handle having a slot therein, a hand-hold adjacent one end of the slot, uiding means adjacent the other end or the slot for slidably engaging the edge of the can to be opened and adapted to act as an initial fulcrum, a curved knife depending downwardly from said handle and beneath said slot, and means extending through said slot and adjustably supporting said knife. 1

A can opener including a handle, an arcuate knife carried by said handle and a guiding member depending from the under side of said handle and notched for slidable engagement with the rim of the can to be opened.

(3. A can opener comprising a handle, a

cutting member carried thereby, a guiding element secured at one end oi the handle for 'slidably engaging the rim of a can, said element comprising a. strip having its ends bent downwardly in spaced relation from each other and notched to ride over the rim during the cutting operation, said element also constituting an initial fulcrum for the said cutting member. 1

7. A can Opener com rising a handle, having anotched guiding e ement at one end and hand gripping means at the other end, a plate slidable along the. under side of said handle, means for adjustably securing said plate to said handle, guide flanges projecting upwardly from said plate on opposite sides of said handle, and a knife blade depending from said plate in a direction opposite'to said flanges. a 1

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON J. MANN. \Vitnesses WM. H. JOHNSON WM. H. Fos'rnn oven. 

